11.4.14

World Team of the Decade-1900s

Player

Team

Country

GK

Leigh Richmond Roose

Stoke

Wales

It was reading about Roose's selection for the World v Another Planet in 1905 that gave me the idea for this series. A playboy maverick shamateur Roose represented 7 clubs in the Football League as well as Celtic.

RB

Bob Crompton

Blackburn

England

I'd pick Bob Crompton on looks alone- his appearance is imperious, He also clocked up a remarkable 41 international appearances and 600 plus games for Blackburn Rovers.

LB

Jimmy Watson

Sunderland

Scotland

Daddy Long Legs was a key member of Sunderland's championship winning side of 1902.

RH

Andy "Daddler" Aitken

Newcastle United

Scotland

Aitken played over 300 League games for Newcastle United and represented Scotland 14 times.

CH

Charlie Roberts

Manchester United

England

The mobile pivot was the inspiration for Pozzo's metodo.

LH

Ernest Needham

Sheffield United

England

The industrious and cerebral half back who was a 'box to box' player.

OR

Billy Meredith

Manchester City

Wales

The original Welsh Wizard of dribble who played top class football for 30 years.

IR

Bobby Walker

Heart of Midlothian

Scotland

Considered by many contemporaries to have been the greatest player to date and a man who inspired the development of the inside forward as a midfield playmaker.

CF

Vivian Woodward

Tottenham Hotspur

England

Woodward was not all about smashing in hatfuls of goals against inept foreign teams- he scored 14 goals in 16 Home Internationals and 103 goals in 238 League appearances.

IL

Colin Veitch

Newcastle United

England

A fascinating man who could haver been a succesful politician and was an accomplished dramatist, Veitch was a versatile player and successful club captain.

OL

Bobby Templeton

Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Woolwich Arsenal Celtic, Kilmarnock

Scotland

Templeton possessed dazzling skills and was known as the Prince of Dribblers